Drug from plant 'can beat obesity'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AN ANTI-OBESITY treatment derived from a South African plant could storm the market for so-called "lifestyle drugs".
The American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which saw profits go up by 40 per cent within three months of launching Viagra, has signed a pounds 24m licensing and development deal with Phytopharm, a British research company.
The potential market for anti-obesity drugs is vast with 65 million Americans alone suffering from obesity. It has been estimated that the direct cost of obesity in the US market is $3bn a year and indirect costs - treatment for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoarthritis - are $75bn.
The appetite-reducing properties of the plant, whose identity is a closely guarded secret, were discovered last year by South African scientists. But the scientists say the drug, named P57, will not suffer the problems that other anti-obesity drugs have done because it works in a different way.
Last year one of the most widely used appetite suppressants, fenfluramine was withdrawn because it caused heart problems.
Xenical, the first approved treatment for obesity that is not an appetite suppressant, can have unpleasant side-effects such as anal leakage if too much fat is absorbed.
The trials for P57 are at a very early stage and at the moment it is impossible to say what its side-effects might be, said the researchers.
"We are in the early stages of development and we can't say there are going to be no side- effects," said Dr Richard Dixey, chief executive of Phytopharm.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments